Helikon run-in groove problem.....


OK...I just spent 2 hours with a very knowledgeable technician trying to figure out why my new (2 months old) helikon (regular) runs in on the lead in groove on some records. My arm is a VPI 10.5 and the tech is quite good at set up and VTA etc. We tried playing with the tonearm cable on the VPI (this is the cable conected to arm tube and the rear arm conection and is also used for anti-skate). We checked the weight,VTA, and still on some records (yes some older Mer's) even newer records..it runs in for a few revolutions or gooves. It is very annoying but does not happen at the end of the record and it plays quit nicely overall. This should be a good question for Helikon/VPI arm 'goners.

Thanks for your help!
rwd

Showing 2 responses by marakanetz

I have both Benz M2 and Lyra Helikon. For some reason I do not set up an andtiscating(with cheap RB300!) since on some records with even small flows it will skip. I've got a great practice within the time of using records(since I was 5) to place a needle by using just fingers without tonearm lifter trying to place the stylus right onto the record bypassing the "lead-in-groove". The same thing can be done with the arm-lifter. It just take a little-longer to place the cartridge on the presice record-groove position.
Some vinyls have better designed pressing quality with almost flat "lead-in-groove" that don't require any antiscating applied and some vinyls look like a pizza where any cartridge will surf through the "lead-in-groove".
One more thing:
Most of the used records even if visually in excellent condition have a surface noise at the beginning(lead-in-groove problem) so practice on some cheap vinyls to place a needle right onto the record:)